Box indicator for jacquard looms



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BOX INDICATOR FOR JACQUARD LOOMS.

Application filed March 16, 1926. Serial No. 95,059.

This inventionrelates to abox indicator capable of general application, but particularly designed for use in a Jacquard loom of the pick-and-pick type. j

The indication of the box changes on such a loom direct from the jacquard mechanism has been found to involve considerable difficulty, largely due to the difference in relative timingof the movements of the jacquard mechanism and the lock bar for the vibrator'lever's. The vibrator levers can only be raised or lowered when the lock bar is withdrawn and the jacquard mechanism mustgive its boxjindi cation at the time while the'lock bar isin its inoperative position.

Various devices have been suggested for preserving or prolonging. the indication until the lock bar moves to inoperative position, and it isthe general object of our invention to improve uponthese prior suggestions by pro viding a box indicator of improved construction and adapted to be set for operation by the acquard-inecha-nism, but actually moved by an indicating mechanism which becomes operative in any desired time relation to the drop-box mechanism. I

important features of our. invention relate to improved holding devices for retaining selected vibrator levers in raised position until they are secured by the lock bar, and to improved devices for thereafter releasing the holding devices.

A further feature of our invention relates to theprovision of an improved'device for adjusting the throw of the indicator levers.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described andmore particularly pointed out in the appe ndedclaims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of parts of a loom embodying our improvements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation'of parts of the loomshown in Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a plan view of ourimproved box indicator; I

Fig. i is a rear elevation-thereof Fig. 5 is asectional plan view taken a-long the line 5-5 in Fig; 4; i v

Fig. 6 is arear view of certain connectors between the jacquard mechanism and the box indicator; j I I I Fig. 7 is a. plan view of the connectors, lookingin the direction of the arrow 7 in 6; F1g. 81s a sect onal rear elevation, showing one of the retaining devlces for the box indi cator levers, taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 11 is a detail view of a portion of one i of theindicator levers.

Referringto the drawings, we have shown portions of a loom including loom sides a cross brace 21, the usual crank shaftQQ, and parts ofa drop box mechanism including m'u tilatedcylinder gears 23 and 24:, and a plurality of'vibrator gears '25 mounted on vibrator levers 26 and connected by links 27 to the usual drop box actuating mechanism M.

We have also shown the usual lock bar 28 having a roll 29 mounted on arod 30 and engaged by a cam 81 rotatable with thelower cylinder gear 24:. The lock bar' 28 is adaptf ed to be positioned above or below pro j ections 32 on the vibrator lever 26,thus lock ing the vibrator levers in lowered or raised position] WVhen the lock'ba'r is forced to the right in Fig. 2by the cam 31, the vibrator levers are unlocked'and may be raised or low er'ed by the box indicator. All of the'parts thus far described are of the usual construc tion and in: themselves form no part of our present invention, which relates more par ticularly to the drop box indicator best shown on an enlarged scalein Figs. 3 and 4.

Our lIIlPIOVGCl 'ndi'cator comprises a brack etAO secured to the loom side 20 or to an upward extension thereof in any convenient manner, as by bolts 42. A shaft L3 is mounted in bearings l4 and 4:5 in the bracket 40 andis held in fixed position therein by a set screw l6. Indicator levers Hare loosely mounted on the fixed shaft 43 and their offset outer ends are connected by links/l8 to the vibrator levers 26 Turn buckles49 are preferably provided in the links 48 for adjusting the position of the vibrator levers as willbe hereinafter described. I p

Lugs or projections 50 (Fig. 11) areals'o provided on the levers 47, which projections engage a surface of the bracket 40 and limit downward movement of the indicator levers. The hub of each lever 47 is also providedwith a notchol adapted to receive the end of aY spring plunger 52 (Fig. 9) slidably mounted in a retaining member 53 pivoted on the fixed shaft 43 and retained in adjusted angular position thereon by a set screw 54 (Fig. 8). A separate retaining device is, of course, provided for each indicator lever.

The plungers are connected by wires or links 55 (Fig. 1) to bell-cranks 56 mounted on a stud 57 supported by a bracket 58 on the cross brace 21. The bell cranks 56 are connected by wire links 59 to certain of the regular jacquard wires or hooks 60. The links 59 are slidable through the arms of the bell cranks 56, and collars 61 (Fig. l) are secured in adjusted position on the links 59 so as to permit a desired amount 0t lost motion be fore the bell cranks will be operatively connected to the jacquard. When the bell cranks are moved angularly by the jacquard as will be hereinafter described, the spring plungers 52 are withdrawn, releasing the associated indicator levers.

We will now describe the mechanism for selectively raising the indicator levers. For this purpose an actuating member 70 (Fig. 4) is pivotally mounted on the shaft 43 and is provided with a cross bar 71 (Fig. 5) having a separate set screw 7 2 (Figs. 4 and 5) under each indicator lever 47 but spaced therefrom. Lock nuts 73 (Fig. 4) are provided for retaining the adjustment of the set screw 72.

A vertical rod 74 is pivoted on a stud 75 adjustable in a slot 76 (Fig. 4) in the end of the actuating member 70. At its lower end the rod 74 is threaded into a rod end 77 (Fig.

10) which is slotted to embrace the crank.

shaft 22 and which is provided with a cam roll 78 positioned for engagement by a cam 79 angularly adjustable on the crank shaft 22. By suitably adjusting the cam on the crank shaft, the actuating member 70 may be given an upward movement through the rod 7 4 in any desired time relation to the drop box mechanism.

In order to provide a selective connection between the actuating member 70 and the indicator levers 47, we provide each indicator lever with a rod or plunger 80 (Figs. 4 and 5) slidable in bearings 81 depending from each indicator lever 47. Springs 82 normally retain the plungers in the withdrawn or inoperative position indicated in Fig. 5 and also in full lines in Fig. 4.

When a rod is selectively pushed to the right to the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 4, it will be engaged by a corresponding set screw 72 in the actuating member and will thus cause the associated indicator lever to be raised by the actuating member.

For the purpose of: selectively advancing the plungers 80 to operative position, we provide a plurality of levers 85 (Fig. 4) loosely mounted on a stud 86 fixed to a depending portion of the bracket 40. A. stop 87 on the bracket '40 limits the movement of the levers 85 in one direction. The levers 85 are loosely connected by links 88 to bell cranks 89 (Fig. 6) mounted on the stud 57 previously de scribed.

The bell cranks 89 are connected by links .90 (Fig. 1) and springs 91 to wires or hooks 92 in the jacquard mechanism. Collars 93 on the links 90 provide a lost motion connection between the bell cranks 89 and the jacquard wires or hooks 92.

The jacquard wires 60 and 92 are selectively positioned by the usual pattern mechanism of the jacquard and when these wires are indicated they will be engaged by a .rising grit? bar 94 upon the next regular upward movement of the jacquard.

Considering a particular indicator lever 47, the wire or hook 92 associated theerwith will be indicated and will be raised by the griff bars in the usual operation of the jacquard. The raising of the wire 92 will cause the corresponding plunger 80 to be advanced to the dotted line position in Fig. 4. The spring 91 in the jacquard connection permits the plunger 80 to be held in such position during the finishing of the upward movement and the beginning of the downward movement of the griff bar. Toward the end of this period, the lock bar 28 will be removed from locking position and the actuator will be raised to lift the selected indicator lever. As the selected lever reaches its upward limit of travel, the associated spring plunger 52 will snap into the notch 51, holding the lever in raised position until the lock bar 28 has returned to locking position.

The indicator lever will remain locked by the plunger 52 so long as it is desired to continue the operation of the shuttle controlled by that particular indicator lever. l/Vhen a change in boxes is desired, the associated jacquard hook or wire 60 is caused to be engaged by one of the griif bars 94 upon its upward movement and acts through the bell crank 56 and link 55 to withdraw the plunger 52 and release the selected indicator lever. As soon as the lock bar 28 is thereafter Withdrawn,

the corresponding vibrator lever will drop to its lower position.

I l/Ve have thus provided a'very simple mechanism by which drop box mechanism may be indicated direct from the jacquard, but in which the actual movement of the vibrator jOevers is effected by a separate operating mem- We will now briefly describe the process of setting up our improved box indicator. The levers 47 are first placed in their normal lOW- ered position as determined by the lugs 50. The links 48 are then adjusted by their turn buckles 49 to hold the vibrator levers 26 in correct lowered position. The actuating member 70 is then raised by the cam 79, and the throw is adjusted by turning the rod 74 in the head 77 (Fig. 10) or by moving the stud (Fig. 4) in the slot 76 to give the maximum throw required for any indicator lever.

The set screws 72 are then adjusted so as to raise each indicator lever 47 to the correct position to hold its associated vibrator lever at the desired elevation when in raised position. The retaining members 53 are then adjusted angularly on the fixed shaft 43 so that the plungers 52 will enter the notches 51 when the indicator levers 4:7 are in correct raised position, as determined by the set screws 72.

We have thus provided a simple and convenient means for adjusting the mechanism to take care of the varying length of the levers 47 and of other varying conditions which may be encountered in loom operation.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what we do claim is 1. A box indicator for looms having a plurality of drop boxes and actuating mechanism including vibrator levers therefor, said indicator comprising a plurality of indicator levers link-connected to said vibrator levers, selective means controlling the positioning of said levers, a common actuating member having a predetermined uniform stroke, and means to separately adjust the effective lift of said actuating member with respect to each indicator lever to vary the upward stroke thereof.

2. A box indicator for looms having a jacquard mechanism, a plurality of drop boxes and actuating mechanism including vibrator levers therefor, said indicator comprising a plurality of indicator levers linkconnected to said vibrator levers, a common actuating member for said indicator levers, a normally inoperative engaging member slidably mounted on each indicator lever, and selective connections between said jacquard mechanism and said engaging members, effective to slide a selected engaging member into position for engagement by said actuating member.

3. A box indicator for looms having a jacquard mechanism, a plurality of drop boxes and actuating mechanism including vibrator levers therefor, said indicator comprising a plurality of indicator levers linkconnected to said vibrator levers, a common actuating member for said indicator levers, said member having a plurality of adjustable abutments thereon, and selective devices mounted on said levers and each selectively movable by said jacquard mechanism into position for engagement by one of said abutments.

4. A box indicator for looms having a jacquard mechanism, a plurality of drop boxes and actuating mechanism including vibrator levers therefor, said indicator comprising a plurality of indicator levers link connected to said vibrator levers, a common actuating member for said indicator levers, a contact screw for each lever adjustably threaded in said actuating member, a plunger mounted beneath and supported by each indicator lever, a spring to move each plunger to inoperative position, and connections from the jacquard mechanism effective to advance a selected plunger into the path of movement of its contact screw.

5. A box indicator for looms having a jacquard mechanism, a plurality of drop boxes and actuating mechanism including vibrator levers therefor, said indicator comprising a plurality of indicator levers link connected to said vibrator levers, a fixed shaft on which said indicator levers are pivoted, a spring-pressed locking plunger for each indicator lever, and connections from said jacquard mechanism for selectively withdrawing said plungers to release said indicator levers.

6. A box indicator for looms having a plurality of drop boxes and actuating mechanism including vibrator levers therefor, said indicator comprising a plurality of indicator levers link-connected to said vibrator levers, retaining devices effective to hold any indicator lever in raised position, and means to separately adjust each retaining device independently of the other retaining devices, whereby the vertical position of each indicator lever ay be separately determined.

7. A box indicator for looms having a plurality of drop boxes and actuating mechanism including vibrator levers therefor, said indicator comprising a plurality of indicator levers link-connected to said vibrator levers, a fixed shaft on which said indicator levers are pivoted, retaining devices effective to hold any indicator lever in raised position, a separate stand for each retaining device also pivoted on said fixed shaft, and separate means to secure each stand to said shaft in angularly adjusted position thereon.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto affixed our signatures.

HENRY S. FAVOR. GEORGE J. PFEIFFER. 

